Unemployment rates were lower in May in 9 states, higher in 3 states, and stable in 38 states and the District of Columbia, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Twenty-two states had jobless rate decreases from a year earlier and 28 states and the District had little or no change. The national unemployment rate, 4.3 percent, was little changed from April but was 0.4 percentage point lower than in May 2016.

Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 9 states and the District of Columbia in May 2017, decreased in 4, and was essentially unchanged in 37 states. Over the year, 28 states added nonfarm payroll jobs and 22 states and the District were essentially unchanged.

Unemployment

Colorado had the lowest unemployment rate in May, 2.3 percent, followed by North Dakota, 2.5 percent. The rates in Arkansas (3.4 percent), Mississippi (4.9 percent),Oregon (3.6 percent), and Washington (4.5 percent) set new series lows. (All state series begin in 1976.) Alaska and New Mexico had the highest jobless rates, 6.7 percent and 6.6 percent, respectively. In total, 17 states had unemployment rates lower than the U.S. figure of 4.3 percent, 8 states and the District of Columbia had higher rates, and 25 states had rates that were not appreciably different from that of the nation. (See tables A and 1.)
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The Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment news release for May is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, June 28, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT). The State Employment and Unemployment news release for June is scheduled to be released on Friday, July 21, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).

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Information from this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200, Federal Relay Services: 1-800-877-8339.